Monday, September 26, 2011

Vermillion's Fall Fashion Preview

Celine sunnies at Vermillion's Fall Fashion Show.

By now you've seen plenty of coverage of New York Fashion Week. But my guess is that you have yet to see one of the best fashion shows I've ever been to. (Okay, maybe I don't get to THAT many fashion shows but who's really counting??)

On September 15, Vermillion held its annual Fall Fashion Preview at the posh Raleigh store. Style seekers and fashion fanatics alike were introduced to Rachel Zoe's new line and the Parisienne chic Celine while re-familiarizing themselves with some old faithfuls- Lela Rose, Derek Lam, Balenciaga and Tory Burch, just to name a few.

Below are a few snapshots from the RUNWAY. Consider this sneak peek your inside track to the best fashion options in town!

Gorgeous Matthew Williamson peacock scarf, Balenciaga bag and Loeffler Randall booties

Diana Broussard necklace, T by Alexander Wang sweater and silk trousers

Side note: This sweater came home with me...that necklace needs to be next.

Lela Rose silk tie-neck blouse and 3.1 Phillip Lim cuffed trousers

Matthew Williamson dress, Balenciaga collar and Loeffler Randall pumps

3.1 Phillip Lim dress, Balenciaga booties

Yigal Azrouel sweater dress

Second side note: I think I'm obsessed with this dress.

Loeffler Randall wedges

Lela Rose dress

Rachel Zoe top and tuxedo

There's a lot more where these came from, ladies...and gents. I can't help but mention that I also came away with an oxblood A.L.C. tee. It's "oxblood," people. Not burgundy.

Check our Vermillion on Facebook for more looks from the fashion show plus updates on new items in store.

In the meantime, I'll be working on my wish list...Isn't Christmas coming up soon or something??

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Red Carpet Recognition

Julie Bowen in Oscar de la Renta via OK! Magazine

The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards took place Sunday evening...and I'm just now getting around to blogging about the red carpet.

Sorry, everyone, for the delay! Perhaps my tardiness should be credited to the underwhelming red carpet. Gah, it's so hard to admit that a red carpet was a let down! But let's focus on the positive and take a look at who (I think) had the best looks Sunday night.

Julie Bowen has got to be my top choice. She looked smokin' hot yet effortlessly sophisticated all at once in her sequined Oscar de la Renta gown. Another one of my top picks, Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab, also rocked that black metallic sequin number. Both women looked stunning, glamorous and appropriate, if you ask me.

Amy Poehler might not appear on "Modern Family" but her ensemble certainly seemed modern to me! This shimmering blue Peter Som dress, though simple in cut, is still so interesting overall. The more I look at it, the more I like it...and wish she had gone all in with a huge jet black beaded necklace to really make the folks at home go insane.

Amy Poehler in Peter Som via Us Magazine

Evan Rachel Wood in Elie Saab via Just Jared

The only actress (who admitted to) wearing vintage was none other than the classic beauty Jennifer Westfeldt. Thank you, Mrs. Jon Hamm, for wearing a bright color that wasn't RED. You gotta love that she's rocking a gown from the 1950s too.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt via Getty Images

I refuse to choose anybody's red dress as one of my top picks because something about red on a red carpet irks me. But coral isn't really red and, therefore, I choose Sarah Hyland and Sofia Vergara as two more of my favs. Sarah looks age appropriate and chic in Christian Soriano while Sofia Vergara also chose an age appropriate knock-out Vera Wang number for her bombshell figure.

Sarah Hyland in Christian Soriano via Celebuzz

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang via Celebuzz

Apparently for me to like you, you have to be/have been on "Modern Family" or "Saturday Night Live." Let's not leave out Kristen Wiig then. She wore a very interesting Zac Posen gown. While I actually despise the color- maybe because it matches her hair- I think I really would have like it in a tonal ivory or maybe even an emerald green. Still, kudos go to the funny lady.

Kristen Wiig in Zac Posen via Harper's Bazaar

I'm hopeful that the other awards bring out some more interesting looks. I think most of the actors played it safe and didn't choose anything unexpected. Here's hoping for more edge and risk on the next red carpet.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Fear Not

Don't worry, I haven't abandoned the blog. And I'm not forgetting that it's Fashion Week. I'm diligently gathering clippings of all of my most favorite pieces to bring them to you neatly and tightly wrapped with a pretty little bow.

The finale of Fashion Week is Thursday. And it just so happens that I have my own fashion show to attend that day. So sit tight and get amped for some fun.

In the meantime, I need this shoe and so do you.

via All Women Stalk

via Tumblr

via Harper's Bazaar

If Hanneli's on board, then so am I!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Ta daaaaaa!

When I wrote yesterday's post, the fashion gods must have been listening.


Preen Tron Top via Shopbop

I think I hear the angels singing...do you?

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Preening and Beading

via The Possessionista

Did anyone else see and covet Nina Garcia's blouse on "Project Runway" recently?

May I introduce you to the Tron Blouse by Preen..I'm slightly obsessed with it. I love the graphic pattern that the intricate beadwork creates. And I'm sort of thinking that I need two matching metallic cuffs to wear on the outside of my long sleeves...just a thought.

Preen via Style.com

A few days later, Marisa Tomei appeared on the red carpet in another Preen confection from the same collection. (Like how that rhymed?) I think I like the dress...just not on her. Sorry, girl.

via theFashionPatrol

Preen via Style.com

Do you like the dress better or the blouse? In a perfect world, I'd be able to buy the TOP of the dress as a blouse. Ba da bing- ba da boom! (Aaaaand the blouse alone wouldn't be $2000.)

And since we're talking about Nina Garcia's "Project Runway" style, can I also say that I might be even more obsessed with the 3.1 Phillip Lim blouse she rocked that same episode??

3.1 Phillip Lim via Style.com

3.1 Phillip Lim via AOL

The Lim blouse, while much cheaper, is still expensive. But how could you ever compete with a black silk tunic and bugle bead sleeves?? Could it be worth the cost?

At any rate, there are tornados and humidity here and I'm rocking the first-day-of-summer sunburn on the last day. Maybe I should wait before I start making fall fashion plans...

Happy Birthday!


Happy Birthday to my mom!!!!




...my original fashion icon.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

What's Black and White and Spotted All Over?

The look I'm coveting for fall!


You know I'm a fan of Parisian chic. One of my first grown-up purchases was a black Isabel Marant dress for a Christmas debutante ball in 2002 (holler, Amanda Lemonds!) and I still worship it to this day. Obviously, I also have a thing for her fringed boots...swoon. But Marant's lower priced line Etoile by Isabel Marant offers her same high end aesthetic at a more affordable price. Read: "more affordable," not "affordable," "cheap" or "inexpensive" for most of us commoners.

The idea of mixing this ivory and black color block mohair sweater with leopard is just too much fun. Aren't these leopard print cords tres chic?? And don't you love that these are corduroy and not denim? Well, I do.


But if leopard print pants are simply too loud for you, you could always flash a little grrrrr along the collar, cuffs and hem in a long-sleeved leopard print collard blouse a la Equipment and pair those tops with a waxed black jean...

Equipment Blouse

J Brand Waxed Jean

Or wear the sweater sans blouse and pop the pattern at your feet with a leopard print shoe.

Giuseppe Zanotti leopard print bootie

Pull your look full circle by adding a classic Etoile boucle jacket. So divine...


La piece de resistance? Valentino studded kitten heels...I'm dying here.

via Bloomingdales

It's still very much summer here in North Carolina- and we're soaking it up while we can- but there are definitely a few fashionable things to look forward to this fall!

all other images via Net-A-Porter